Seabourn Ovation debuts as fifth all-suite ship from company’s ultra-luxury Seabourn cruise brand
Following launch of Carnival Horizon and Seabourn Ovation, company’s AIDA Cruises and Holland America Line brands will also introduce new ships in 2018
World’s largest leisure travel company will add 18 new ships to its fleet by 2023, reinforcing efforts to consistently exceed guest expectations and accelerate demand for cruise vacations
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest leisure travel company, on May 11 officially launched Seabourn Ovation, the second of four new ships that will enter service in 2018 across four of the company’s nine global cruise brands. The launch of Seabourn Ovation follows the delivery of the corporation’s first ship of 2018, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon, which has earned rave reviews since its April 2 inaugural cruise.
Also, in late 2018, two more Carnival Corporation brands will launch new ships:
- AIDAnova from AIDA Cruises, the leading cruise line in Germany, marks a new generation of the brand’s ships that combine innovative design with state-of-the-art technology to provide even greater onboard comfort and further enhance the guest experience.
- Holland America Line, a leader in premium cruising, will launch ms Nieuw Statendam, the line’s second Pinnacle Class ship following ms Koningsdam in 2016.
The four new ships are part of Carnival Corporation's ongoing fleet enhancement strategy, which will build on the delivery of Carnival Horizon and Seabourn Ovation with 18 new ships scheduled for delivery between 2018 and 2023. The new ships continue the corporation’s focus on providing experiences that consistently exceed guest expectations while also creating excitement and accelerating demand for cruising, the fastest growing segment in the vacation industry.
“Following the successful launch of three new ships in 2017, we are excited to have four more spectacular ships join our fleet in 2018 that will further support our goal to consistently provide extraordinary vacation experiences at an exceptional value for our guests,” said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. “The stunning new Seabourn Ovation is the latest example of our long-term strategy to build highly efficient and innovative new vessels that create excitement for cruising and help boost consideration for cruise vacations among consumers in the broader vacation market.”
Added Frizzell: “In addition to the introduction of new ships, our fleet enhancement plan includes refurbishing existing ships and replacing less-efficient vessels over time as part of our measured capacity growth strategy.”
Introducing Seabourn Ovation – The Latest Ultra-Luxury Ship from Seabourn
Seabourn Ovation (see also CruiseMapper) was officially launched on May 11 at a naming ceremony in Valletta, Malta, to commemorate its entry into service for the Seabourn fleet. One of the world's most highly-acclaimed actresses and singers, Elaine Paige, served as godmother and named the ship during a ceremony that lit up the UNESCO World Heritage site and the 2018 European Capital of Culture.
Seabourn Ovation was delivered on April 27 during an official handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. Following the delivery ceremony, Seabourn Ovation began her maiden season with an 11-day inaugural voyage departing May 5 from Venice, Italy, and culminating with its arrival in Barcelona, Spain.
Seabourn Ovation will expand and build on the line’s award-winning and highly acclaimed Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionized ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011. A sister ship to Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation features 300 all-oceanfront suites and maintains the line’s high ratio of space per guest, enabling highly personalized service.
Seabourn Ovation was fashioned by notable hospitality design icon Adam D. Tihany with contemporary interiors, modern design elements and innovations consistent with Seabourn’s reputation for understated elegance. Tihany’s vision has delivered the world’s finest ultra-luxury resort that happens to traverse the oceans of the world. The new ship will round out the current planned expansion of the line’s award-winning, newest and most consistent fleet in the ultra-luxury segment.
The fifth all-suite ship in the Seabourn fleet, Seabourn Ovation offers a number of in-suite amenities to provide guests with a "home away from home" onboard experience, including a private veranda in every luxurious suite. Featuring striking design and sophisticated décor, each suite will include a comfortable living area, elegant bedding, a walk-in closet, in-suite entertainment options and a marble bathroom with separate bath and shower, and luxury bath products, including the exclusive Seabourn Signature Scents by Molton Brown.
Guests who sail on Seabourn Ovation will also find a number of innovative offerings and programs, including partnerships with a select group of companies and individuals whose dedication to superior quality, exceptional service and consistent customer satisfaction matches Seabourn.
These programs include “An Evening with Tim Rice,” the evening entertainment experience created exclusively for the line in association with Belinda King Creative Productions; Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, offering guests a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being; and The Grill by Thomas Keller, reminiscent of the classic American restaurant from the 1950s and 1960s. Exclusive to Seabourn, The Grill is a unique culinary concept for Chef Keller, focusing on updated versions of iconic dishes.
Seabourn Ovation will spend the majority of its maiden season cruising the waters of Northern Europe, offering a series of seven-day Baltic and Scandinavian sailings between Copenhagen and Stockholm.
Seabourn Ovation will also sail on longer 14-day voyages, visiting the majestic Norwegian fjords and British Isles. Select sailings will also include the Ventures by Seabourn program, which are optional for-charge expedition-style excursions featuring a team of experts, Zodiacs and kayaks with a focus on allowing guests to experience nature up close.
Carnival Cruise Line Recently Launched Carnival Horizon with Inaugural Voyage in April 2018
Carnival Cruise Line, the world’s most popular cruise line, took delivery of the new 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon (see also CruiseMapper) in March 2018 in a traditional maritime handover ceremony held at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The 3,954-passenger ship departed Barcelona on April 2 on its inaugural 13-day voyage – the first of four sailings from the European port. The ship is currently sailing on a transatlantic crossing and will arrive in New York on May 23 for a naming ceremony featuring the ship's godmother, Grammy award-winning musical artist and acclaimed actress Queen Latifah.
The 26th ship for Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Horizon offers a number of unique and exciting features, including the first Dr. Seuss-themed WaterWorks aqua park, the line's first teppanyaki dining venue and Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse, a new restaurant concept that combines BBQ offerings created by Food Network star and longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri, along with four specifically designed craft beers brewed at an onboard brewery.
Carnival Horizon also offers many of the popular indoor and outdoor dining, bar, entertainment and activity options that debuted on its sister-ship, Carnival Vista, such as the groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky SkyRide attraction and an IMAX Theatre. Guests can also enjoy a wide range of accommodations including extra-roomy staterooms in Family Harbor and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms and suites with exclusive daytime access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool.
Carnival Horizon will operate a summer schedule of four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean departures from New York and then shift to Miami for year-round schedule six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning in September 2018.
AIDA Cruises: AIDAnova – Expected to launch in November 2018
Arriving in late 2018, AIDAnova (see also CruiseMapper) will have more than 40 different restaurants and bars on board to provide guests with an opportunity to enjoy a new level of world-class dining experiences and culinary trends.
Versatile entertainment offerings include the beach club and Four Elements adventure deck, complete with three water slides and a climbing garden under the dome of a retractable glass roof, in addition to a new escape room for puzzle lovers, a 360-degree Theatrium and Studio X, a TV studio at sea.
Highlights include 20 different stateroom types, ranging from a two-deck penthouse suite to spacious family and patio cabins to comfortable single options with a balcony. The ship will also feature the Body & Soul Spa, spanning two decks and offering over 80 treatments from around the world.
AIDAnova will make history as the first cruise ship to be fully powered in port and at sea by LNG, the world's cleanest burning fossil fuel – an innovation that will reduce exhaust emissions to help protect the environment and support Carnival Corporation's aggressive sustainability goals.
The ship’s next-generation, fully LNG-powered design is an evolution from the brand's previous award-winning class of ships that includes AIDAprima and AIDAperla, the first two cruise ships in the world that can use LNG while in port. AIDAnova will be followed by eight additional fully LNG-powered ships scheduled to be delivered across several Carnival Corporation brands by 2023.
AIDAnova will be christened in August with a christening show and live concert, AIDA Open Air, at the MEYER WERFT shipyard in Papenburg, Germany – the first christening of a cruise ship at the shipyard in more than 20 years. Following the ship’s delivery in November 2018, AIDAnova will begin its maiden voyage from Hamburg to the Canary Islands in December.
Holland America Line: ms Nieuw Statendam – Expected to launch in December 2018
Nieuw Statendam is the second Pinnacle Class ship for Holland America Line, joining Koningsdam, which launched in April 2016. Due for delivery in December 2018, with a third Pinnacle Class ship due in 2021, Nieuw Statendam is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy.
The 99,500-ton ship is the ultimate expression of the brand's evolution, with grand light-filled spaces, visual drama and sumptuous interiors inspired by the fluid curves of musical instruments, created by leading hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany and designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten. The newest Pinnacle Class ship will have eight more staterooms than its sister ship Koningsdam, in addition to the redesigned Pinnacle Suite and reconfigured family staterooms.
The ship will carry 2,666 guests and feature fine-dining options at alternative restaurants Sel de Mer, a French seafood brasserie, and Tamarind, an Asian fusion concept, in addition to the Grand Dutch Café with traditional Dutch treats and European beer.
Onboard entertainment will include the popular Music Walk area featuring all genres of music showcased in venues including Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and the dynamic B.B. King's Blues Club. With the 270-degree LED projection at World Stage, show-time performances will immerse the audience in panoramic visual and sound effects. The ship will also launch with the newly created Exploration Central's hub located in the Crow's Nest, now a comprehensive resource and engagement center with interactive screens and a Virtual Bridge.
Nieuw Statendam is scheduled to depart Dec. 5, 2018, on its maiden voyage with guests – a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale. The ship will then spend the winter, holiday and spring seasons cruising roundtrip from the South Florida port on seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with select three-, four- and 10-day options.
Following its inaugural season island-hopping throughout the Caribbean, Nieuw Statendam will cross the Atlantic Ocean in late April 2019 and spend the summer and fall exploring northern Europe and the Mediterranean, homeporting in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for the season.
Source: Carnival Corp